Promising new models for studying allergenicity and allergy therapeutics: organoids and beyond

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About this Research Topic

Submission deadlines

  1. Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 26 May 2025 | Manuscript Submission Deadline 13 September 2025

  2. This Research Topic is still accepting articles.

    1. Check author guidelines

Background

Researchers across the globe are striving to deepen the understanding of allergy development mechanisms and to advance diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Presently, much of allergy research relies on 2D cell culture systems or mouse models. While both approaches offer valuable insights and specific advantages depending on the research question, they do not accurately reflect the atopic human complexity in vivo. Consequently, there is an urgent need to expand the range of experimental models employed in allergy research to better reflect pathophysiological processes and advance the development of therapeutic strategies.

This Research Topic aims to spotlight the development and application of novel experimental models that can enhance our understanding of allergy pathophysiology, improve the diagnostics and aid in development of therapies. We invite contributions that apply innovative systems such as organoids, organs-on-a-chip, ex-vivo tissue explants, C. elegans, zebrafish, and other emerging platforms, to explore various aspects of allergic diseases. Studies showcasing the integration of these models with cutting-edge technologies such as single-cell transcriptomics or gene editing are also encouraged.

Organoids have emerged as powerful tools in allergy research, providing physiologically relevant, three-dimensional models derived from human tissues. They closely mimic the architecture and functions of critical organs involved in allergic sensitization and reactions, such as the airways, gut and skin, thereby enabling detailed studies of allergen-epithelium interaction, immune cell recruitment, and the development of Th2-biased environment. They hence provide a useful platform to study disease mechanisms, reducing reliance on animal models and improving the translational relevance. In addition to organoids, other models such as C. elegans, zebrafish, and organ-on-a-chip systems hold great promise for advancing allergy research. Each of these models brings unique strengths, enabling researchers to explore various aspects of allergic diseases with greater precision and relevance. Together, these advanced platforms represent a new frontier in allergy research, paving the way for transformative insights and therapeutic advancements.

This Research Topic will discuss and highlight current knowledge and original groundbreaking studies that utilize novel experimental models to advance our understanding of allergic diseases, encompassing their mechanisms, diagnostics, and therapeutic strategies.

We welcome submissions across a broad range of themes, including but not limited to:

• Development of novel experimental models to study allergy: Contributions focusing on the design, implementation, and validation of cutting-edge models, such as organoids, organ-on-a-chip systems, ex vivo tissue explants, C. elegans, and zebrafish, to investigate diverse aspects of allergic diseases.

• Basic mechanisms of allergic sensitization and reaction: Studies that employ innovative models to uncover fundamental processes underlying allergic sensitization and reactions, including the identification of key cell types, gene expression patterns, molecular pathways, and their interplay in driving allergic diseases.

• Advances in allergy diagnostics: Research presenting novel diagnostic methodologies that utilize innovative platforms and approaches to improve the accuracy of patient-tailored allergy diagnosis.

• Innovative therapeutic strategies: Investigations into novel therapeutic strategies for allergies using advanced, novel experimental approaches and models.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Case Report
  • Classification
  • Clinical Trial
  • Community Case Study
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Case Report
  • Classification
  • Clinical Trial
  • Community Case Study
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research
  • Perspective
  • Policy and Practice Reviews
  • Policy Brief
  • Review
  • Study Protocol
  • Systematic Review
  • Technology and Code

Keywords: Allergic sensitization, allergy diagnostics, therapy of allergy, innovative experimental models, organoids, organ-on-a-chip, ex-vivo tissue explants

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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